Parenting in the Digital Age
Get informed • Support our children • Sign the pact
Listen to our incredible panel of local experts in paediatrics, mental health, the police and education.
Hear from the inspiring Year 10 students who are delivering workshops for the city's primary children explaining what it's really like to own a smartphone.
Meet other parents who are considering delaying giving their child a smartphone until at least the age of 14.
Q&A with our experts to answer your burning questions.
Tickets are free but spaces are limited, so reserve your seat today.
Audience feedback from our January event
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Really powerful and inspiring event - thank you. Lots to take away and act on with our school community."
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "It was fantastic, informative, inspiring!"
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Amazing and inspiring!"
Our Panel of Speakers
Mandy Marshall-Taylor, Schools Associate, Naked Truth
Over the past seventeen years Mandy’s work has been to strengthen relationships in schools, prisons and churches. She has been with Naked Truth since 2021, helping to raise awareness of the damaging effects of pornography on children and young people. Mandy will be chairing our event.
Dr Eleanor Mason MBBS BSc, GP
Dr Mason has worked locally as a doctor for 12 years. She quickly took a keen interest in mental health after realising the substantial suffering of those with mental health problems. Dr Mason will focus on the impact of smartphones on teenagers and young children’s mental health as she sees the deleterious effects they are having in her GP surgery every week. She is desperate to instigate change amongst this vulnerable group of people whose current mental health, future development and potential is in our hands.
DCI Luke Kyriakides-Yeldham and DI Cyntac Belong, Sussex Police Online Child Abuse Team
DCI Kyriakides and DI Belong both started their service in the Metropolitan Police, before moving to the Sussex Police. As senior members of the Online Child Abuse Team, they will discuss the sharing of indecent images on smartphones, including sexting, sextortion and online grooming.
Dr Sharmila Jeyasingh MBBS MRCP, Consultant Paediatrician
Dr Jeyasingh works at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and has a special interest in epilepsy and neurology. She has over 25 years experience in paediatrics and has an enthusiastic interest in how the environment and lifestyle affects children’s health. She will share neuroscientific insights into children’s excess screen time.
Danielle Drinkwater, DClinPsy, BSc
Danielle is a Clinical Psychologist specialising in work with children and families. Since completing her doctorate 2017, Danielle has worked in various Child and Adolescent Services across Sussex, as well as running her own private practice. Danielle now works as a Clinical and Academic tutor on a Clinical Psychology training programme. She has a keen interest in Community Psychology and supporting families from a non-judgemental and non-pathologising approach.
Viv, Aishah, Josh and Domi, Year 10 students, Varndean School
Viv and Aishah will be talking about what it was like to have a smartphone at an early age. Later in the evening, Josh and Domi will tell us about the inspiring action taken by student leaders at Varndean School to explain the risks and downsides of smartphones to children in local primary schools.
Patcham High has very limited parking on site. Once that is full there is on-street parking surrounding the school - allow time to walk from there. We encourage you to share lifts or travel by foot/bike/no. 5 bus.